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SERMON XIV.

GOOD COMPANY RECOMMENDED.

PSALM cxix. 63.

I AM A COMPANION OF ALL THEM THAT FEAR THEE, AND OF THEM THAT KEEP THY PRECEPTS.

THE fear of God and keeping of his command

ments are connected parts of the fame character, and comprehend the whole duty of man. The author of the words before us delighted in the law of the Lord: It was his meditation all the day. He beheld the trans greffors, and was grieved. Yea, faith he, "Horrour

hath taken hold upon me, because of the wicked "who forfake thy law. Do not I hate them, O Lord, "who hate thee? and am not I grieved with those "who rife up against thee? I hate them with perfect "hatred; I count them mine enemies. I have not "fat with vain perfons; neither will I go in with dif"femblers. I have hated the congregation of evil cc men; and will not fit with the wicked." To all of this description he said, "Depart from me; for I will 'keep the commandments of my God." In the text he mentions the fearers of God as his companions. These were the characters which he esteemed excellent, and in whom was all his delight. Thefe hath the Lord fet apart for himself. For thefe the holy angels minifter. They Shall not be tempted above that they are able. If caft into the furnace, they come forth as refined gold. Their death is precious in the fight of the Lord. They fhall be found to honour and glory at the appearing of Jefus Chrift.

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Such are the fearers of God. What I now have in view is to recommend their company to young people. The character which perfons obtain in life, depends much on their early affociates.

Upon this ground parents are commanded to train up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. This they cannot be prefumed to do, unless they recommend to them virtuous companions, and enforce the recommendation by a pious example before them. Trained up with the fearers of God, habits may be formed and fixed, which may fecure them against the fnares and allurements in the path of life. Careful obfervers trace the difcrete, virtuous, useful, and even eminent part, which fome act in life, to their early choice of a few afsociates, esteemed for thoughtfulness, prudence, and an emulation to excel in wisdom and virtue. Among the inftances of grofs departure from honourable and ufeful paths, the greater part, perhaps, must be afcribed to an early acquaintance with fome one or more of an unprincipled character-But we need not enlarge in a cafe fo plain. The world abounds with bad examples: Good ones have been generally rare-not certainly less rare in our times than heretofore. If more frequent, and of a more dangerous defcription, greater vigilance and firmnefs will be required to withstand them: Greater magnanimity will be difplayed in refolving to keep company with the virtuous few. Let the lafting and important confequences, which may depend upon an early and fixed refolution in this point, be kept in mind. For the earlier this refolve is made, the more praife-worthy, the more fecure your virtue.

Secondly, The fearers of God are of one heart. This is a further recommendation of their company.

They are agreed in the great doctrines and duties, and in the fpirit, of religion. They have one Lord, one faith, one hope. On points not effential, on forms and modes, on the ways and means which may be best

adapted to promote religion, there will be a diversity of fentiment: But the fearers of God, fo far as they know one another, are united in esteem and affection: They agree in love to Zion-in ftriving for the faith delivered to the faints-in endeavours for the best interefts of their country, and of mankind—in fervent prayers and exertions for the peace and profperity of Jerufalem, the enlargement of her cords, and ftrength of ber ftakes. They mutually rejoice, when things go well in church and ftate. They are afflicted in the afflictions of their people: They mourn the declensions and deadness of profeffors: They unite against the common foes of Chriftianity, are deeply affected with any advantages gained against the cause of truth, and the reproaches caft upon it: They agree in endeavours that their light may shine before men-that their good may not be evil Spoken of. Except they are thus far agreed, they feek their own things, not the things of Chrift. Chriftian charity feeketh not her own. From imperfect knowledge of religion and of each other, good men feparate. When clothed with humility and charity, they are fenfible of their own liableness to err, think no evil of their brethren, without full proof from their fruits; and esteem others better than themselves.

Vicious men and infidels, though they agree in their opposition to truth, holiness and peace; yet do not pursue the fame, but feparate, finifter interefts, according to their different paffions. But the fearers of God, fo far as they act up to this character, have no end feparate from his glory; no happiness separate from his favour. So far as they have attained, they walk by the fame rule, and mind the fame thing. What diftinguifheth them is not a perfect accordance in opinion, but the fpirit of Chrift, the fame mind as was in him. This unites and endears them to each other, though of different opinions on speculative and circumstantial matters, more and far otherwife than any agreement in fuch matters without the fpirit of the gofpel, This

fpirit, apparent in any, is a peculiar recommendation of their fociety. Efpecially would we recommend fuch fociety to those who are just coming forward in life. For,

First, They are the best counsellors. They receive the truth in love, and have no attachment to errour. They come to the light. Perceiving how much they need wisdom from above, they afk it of him who giveth liberally: They afk in faith, nothing wavering. They therefore shall know the doctrine of religion in all important points. "None of the wicked fhall underftand; but the wife fhall underftand." God teacheth his way to the meek and humble, who wish to know and do his will. Their "path is as the fhining light, which fhineth more and more. But the way "of the wicked is as darkness." evil, they love darkness rather than light. The Father of lights guideth the former by his unerring wisdom; the latter, trufting to their own wisdom, know not at what they stumble. They who walk uprightly walk furely; because God is their fun and fhield, to enlighten and guard them.

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These are the best advisers, if it be true that he who walketh with wife men shall be wife. Both their integrity and judgment, in the things of your peace, be confided in. For "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wifdom; a good understanding have "all they who do his commandments."

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What more desirable, at the entrance on life, than a guide, an acquaintance, in whom you can confide?-whofe fociety is improving? a guide, an acquaintance who hath acquainted himself with God, and is at peace with him-a friend of univerfal virtue-in whofe eye a vile perfon is contemned-who honoureth fuch as fear the Lord. The thoughtful and serious feek the company of perfons with whom they may take fweet counfel; and fhun the thoughtlefs and frivolous, vain and impious. He who has not the fulleft confidence in his own opin

ions, but is confcious of his liableness to err, defires the opinion of others in matters of moment. With whom then shall he take counfel? Certainly with those who have no wish to deceive him-who treat the most important fubjects as being what they are-who rejoice not in iniquity, but in the truth-whofe fupreme with is, that this may have free course.

Secondly, Such companions will not only give you falutary counsel, but will conftantly incite you to "whatsoever things are true, honeft, juft, pure, lovely, "and of good report." With a view to mutual improvement in fuch things, the fearers of God fpeak often one to another, stirring up the gifts of God in one another, as good stewards of his grace. Without fuch mutual incitement, the love of religion will grow cold, and its cause be wounded in the houfe of its friends. These therefore exhort one another, as they have opportunity; "confefs their faults one to another, and

pray one for another, that they may be healed." You need every incentive to virtue in early life, every preservative against vice. Affociate yourselves therefore with the friends of virtue: Set before you her brighteft ornaments. Emulate what you muft acknowledge to be praise-worthy in them.

It follows, thirdly, that in fuch company you will beft purfue the end for which life was given.

You were fent into the world to do good in this life, and to lay a good foundation for that to cometo believe in and follow your Redeemer, who eminently glorified God on the earth, and finifhed his work while it was day. In this work he had meat to eat, of which the world is ignorant. Would you do the main bufinefs of life in fome fuch manner? would you, as he was, be animated by the joy fet before you? Then keep company with them who live to the Lord. Thefe only are the perfons who confider the true use and end of life--who rejoice both God and man—who reflect that they are not their own, were not made for

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